LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -

The combination of price movements and softening lane activity means one thing, according to Black Book. The spring market appears to have fully bloomed.

The latest Black Book Market Insights report showed both car and truck segments seeing higher depreciation than the last several weeks, both dropping 20 percent and 25 percent in value, respectively. Editors indicated this level of weekly depreciation most likely signals the end of the spring season.

“Spring market buying appears to have slowed as market values continue their slide with normal depreciation across most segments,” said Anil Goyal, senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics at Black Book.

Based on volume-weighted data, editors noted overall car segment values decreased by 0.25 percent last week, worse than the average weekly increase of 0.06 percent in values over the previous six weeks.

Black Book mentioned the prestige luxury car, midsize car and sub-compact car segments declined the most by 0.55 percent, 0.49 percent and 0.41 percent, respectively.

Again looking at volume-weighted information, editors determined that overall truck segment values (including pickup, SUVs and vans) dropped by 0.20 percent last week after producing a nearly flat market during the previous six weeks.

Editors noticed the compact van segment was the only light truck segment to see a moderate increase in values, ticking up by 0.24 percent.

And while the raw numbers showed the likely end of the spring market, Black Book representatives in the lanes at about 60 auctions nationwide reported back with anecdotes about what dealers and consignors are encountering.

One report said, “An auction manager in Florida says his dealers are reporting weak retail, which means fewer trade-ins. The trade-ins that they do get will stay on their lots and not make it to auction.”

Up Illinois, the recap offered a consignor’s perspective, which said, “A large national remarketer here says that his inventory is low and stable values reflect the shortage. He may start running every other week instead of weekly due to the low supply.”

And in three other states, slowing retail movement at dealer showrooms evidently is prompting used-car managers to let units roll over the block without the hammer coming down.

From Tennessee: “Dealers are cutting their late model used vehicle prices on their lots in order to compete with the numerous new-car incentives.”

From South Carolina: “Dealers' interest in buying was noticeably lower today compared to the last couple of months. More vehicles with damage and high mileage showed up.”

From Michigan: “Both bidding and sales are slow here this week. Retail activity continues to be sub-par here also.”